Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.
Parallel translations
- WEB Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
- KJV Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
- NKJV Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
- NASB Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity Than a person who is perverse in speech and is a fool.
- NLT Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Integrity in poverty is better than dishonest folly. Character matters more than wealth.
Overview
This proverb declares the poor person who walks in integrity better off than the perverse-lipped fool, even if the latter prospers. It reorders worldly values, prizing godly character above status and possessions. The theme recurs in Proverbs (cf. 28:6) and aligns with Jesus' teaching that gaining the world while losing one's soul profits nothing (Mark 8:36).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Prov 28:6Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a rich man whose ways are perverse.
- Prov 16:8Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.
- Matt 16:26What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
- Prov 19:22The desire of a man is loving devotion; better to be poor than a liar.
- Prov 14:2He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.
- Prov 20:7The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
- Prov 15:16Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.
- Isa 59:3For your hands are stained with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters injustice.
- Jas 2:5–6Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
- Ps 37:26They are ever generous and quick to lend, and their children are a blessing.
- Prov 12:26A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.
- Ps 26:11But I will walk with integrity; redeem me and be merciful to me.
- 1 Sam 25:25My lord should pay no attention to this scoundrel Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name means Fool, and folly accompanies him. I, your servant, did not see my lord’s young men whom you sent.
- Matt 12:31–34Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
- 1 Sam 25:17Now consider carefully what you must do, because disaster looms over our master and all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that nobody can speak to him!”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 19:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.